I'm on my university's tenure and promotion committee, and I spent half the day yesterday discussing the cases of scholars whose brilliant, groundbreaking, and life-saving work was made possible by federal research grants. And it's devastating to think of how much knowledge we'll lose going forward. - ThreadSky

jessicacalarco.bsky.social • 37 days ago

I'm on my university's tenure and promotion committee, and I spent half the day yesterday discussing the cases of scholars whose brilliant, groundbreaking, and life-saving work was made possible by federal research grants. And it's devastating to think of how much knowledge we'll lose going forward.

Reposted from Jane Liebschutz, MD MPH (she/her)

All NIH study sections canceled indefinitely. This will halt science and devastate research budgets in universities.

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tmoore88.bsky.social•37 days ago

As someone who was considering beginning the PhD application process, this is devastating. It will certainly demotivate many from pursuing research.

yseriel.bsky.social•37 days ago

Yeah... it is awful. If only people werent so angry and desperate that they woundnt vote for trump... maybe if they werent saddled with student debt they simply cannot pay... but hey, at least uni endowments keep growing.

babsallday.bsky.social•36 days ago

yup, making the populace dumb and compliant is the intention

drkath.bsky.social•37 days ago

That’s an interesting, if smaller wrinkle—many fields explicitly value external $$ in T&P consideration. What happens when that money ceases to exist?

pamherd.bsky.social•36 days ago

Nearly all universities would face an enormous fiscal crisis--that would affect all faculty and entail major faculty job loss--if there is substantial retrenchment of NIH funds.

feleciaelana.bsky.social•36 days ago

And affect enrollment, particularly for graduate students who are often getting their tuition subsidized by those grants or revenue from those grants.

lindaannhilton.bsky.social•36 days ago

They don't want educated people. Educated people are a challenge to their "faith"-based power. Not faith as in religious; just unquestioning faith in them because they're powerful.

johncluverius.bsky.social•36 days ago

good thing the FAFSA changes and state governments have boosted university budgets so they're all well-prepared to take the hit.

jessicacalarco.bsky.social•36 days ago

*sigh*

serehfas.bsky.social•36 days ago

I was just wondering what would happen to the NIH online library that has been such a valuable resource.

marcellograz.bsky.social•36 days ago

So…will academia recognize this gruesome landscape, or are acas going to destroy folks’ lives “b/c they did not get grants’? (The latter, I bet $2 on the latter).

bopstyle.bsky.social•37 days ago

Definitely have entered the Dark Ages where creativity and women were almost wiped out

liebschutz.bsky.social•37 days ago

Thank you for your work on promoting science by being part of the academic infrastructure.

profkfh.bsky.social•37 days ago

It’s horrible and i’m terrified for my colleagues (& my health if i’m honest), but i’m also big mad at scientists I know who have insisted on being “apolitical” —in addition to the ones who voted 4 Trump thinking they were secure becuz they weren’t Black Studies, gender studies, etc.

brashtech.bsky.social•36 days ago

First they came for DEI, and I said nothing, for I am yt.

winningmsg.bsky.social•37 days ago

"Trump and the republicans are cancelling the science that keeps you healthy. The result will be no more wonder drugs. No cure for cancer. More viruses that kill you and your family. Time to start a weekly Trump Death Count so we all can see the blood on their hands."

drmachalicek.bsky.social•36 days ago

I am also on our university's faculty personnel committee and experiencing a major case of the morbs thinking about the future and grieving our loss.

drspedinnv.bsky.social•36 days ago

I’m holding my breath, waiting to see what happens with Dept of Ed grants. We currently have a K and D with a lot of students depending on that funding.

drmachalicek.bsky.social•36 days ago

Yup. So far, no news.

drspedinnv.bsky.social•36 days ago

🤞

marisakabas.bsky.social•37 days ago

It’s just beyond. ICYMI:

slleather.bsky.social•37 days ago

I think a lot of NIH grants will continue unmolested. At risk is work involving gender, race, violence, climate, etc. But any sort of pause - even a short one - will effect people with short time horizons eg: grad students who need to complete their work by a given date.

nanadoc.bsky.social•37 days ago

And people aren't often aware how many small businesses are funded by the NIH through the sbir grant program. Small businesses can't take these gaps in funding. That's thousands of companies employing tens of thousands of people doing cutting edge research.

nanadoc.bsky.social•37 days ago

How? If there are no study sections, and no one from the NIH can travel and no communication come out from the NIH, the FDA or the CDC, nothing is going to happen. All projects will die. There's been nothing to say this is temporary. What's the plan here?

stlcatfishmike.bsky.social•37 days ago

It’s baffling. This is how he bankrupted a casino!! Beyond its value as a public good RESEARCH MAKES MONEY like 4$ for every 1 spent

cachetlivia.bsky.social•37 days ago

The existence of federally-funded university research elevates US education and government expertise above every other country. It’s a force multiplier that benefits the world.

drkhaynes.bsky.social•37 days ago

I really hope that P&T committees finally reconsider judging a faculty’s merit based on NIH grants.

blue-magpie.bsky.social•37 days ago

It’s heartbreaking and may be career-ending. . .

swellandswale.bsky.social•37 days ago

What is the end game here?

jessicacalarco.bsky.social•37 days ago

No research = no facts = easier to delude people with misinformation

No research funding = a way to kill "woke" universities without directly attacking education

chiefe-9.bsky.social•37 days ago

Not just woke but antisemitic. Look at the crap that happened again yesterday at Columbia.

musacchai.bsky.social•37 days ago

What happened at Columbia?

chiefe-9.bsky.social•37 days ago

Palestinian protesters barged into a classroom to protest and wouldn't leave. And of course they had to have their faces covered.

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